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Correspondence of Fr. Senan Moynihan OFM Cap. and Fr. Henry Anglin OFM Cap., mainly regarding orders for various editions of 'The Capuchin Annual' (particularly from the United States) and for permission to reproduce content from the publication (including the artwork of Richard King). The file also includes letters from contributors with some references to financial problems in the Capuchin Periodicals Office, and to Fr. Senan’s ill-health, and later to his resignation from the editorship of the 'Annual'. The file includes letters from the following correspondents: Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Ruth Axe, Jack Lane, Seumas MacManus, Frank Duff, Robert Monteith, Denis O’Shea, travelling sales representative for 'The Capuchin Annual', Fr. John Cardiff, Holy Cross Rectory, Chicago, Fr. John J. Carroll, Saint Clement Parish House, Sheboyan, Wisconsin, Br. Francis Propser OFM Cap., Garrison, New York, Martin J. Fenelon, Katherine Edelman, Doran Hurley, Monsignor Martin C. Murphy, Columbia, South Carolina, Robert Ostermann, Archbishop Pietro Sigismondi, Martin Cullen, St. John’s Seminary, Minnesota, Fr. Christopher Crowley OFM Cap., Devin A. Garrity, Paul Martin-Dillon, Fr. Terence L. Connolly SJ, Fr. Carthage Ruth OFM Cap., the Most Rev. James M. Liston, Bishop of Auckland, Fr. Colga O’Riordan OFM Cap., and Fr. William Coughlan OFM Cap.

Copy circular letter from Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, announcing the purchase of Ards House by the Capuchin Order. The letter reads:

'It is more than 350 years since the Franciscans laboured “for the glory of God, and the honour of Erin” in the historic Abbey of Donegal. Now they are returning and let us hope that this new Friary of the Order will be a centre of spiritual force, the influence of which will be felt, not only in Tirconaill, but in the whole of the north of Ireland'.

He also expresses his gratitude to Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. whose ‘untiring energy’ ensured the acquisition of the property. A note (added by Fr. Angelus Healy OFM Cap.) states that a meeting of the Provincial Definitory on 5 Mar. 1930 confirmed the plan to purchase of Ards House for a canonical foundation. It is also noted that Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. was appointed guardian of the new foundation.

Photographic prints of the first community in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. The copy print is annotated as follows: (left to right): Fr. Cassian O’Shea OFM Cap., Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (guardian), Fr. Felix Guihen OFM Cap. Standing: Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap. and Fr. Columban McGarry OFM Cap. The larger print is annotated as follows: seated: Br. Leopold (novice); Fr. Andrew; Fr. Colman (Guardian), Fr. Eunan, Br. Carthage. Standing: Br. Theodore (novice), Br. Robert (novice), Br. Norbert (novice), Fr. Eugene (Novice Master), Br. Evangelist (novice), Br. Colman (laybrother), Br. Roger (novice), Br. Alexius (laybrother), Br. John (tertiary).

An image of a group of Capuchin friars in Kilkenny. An annotation on the cover indicates that (seated, second from the right) Fr. Camillus Killian OFM Cap. (1872-1941) was the house superior. Fr. Killian was superior in Kilkenny from 1907-10. Other friars in the group include:
(seated, first on the right): Fr. Dominic O'Connor OFM Cap. (1883-1935)
(seated, second on the left): Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap. (1875-1950)
(standing, third from the left): Fr. Cyril O'Sullivan OFM Cap. (1887-1921)
(standing, fourth from the left): Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. (1886-1971)

Photographic print of Mrs Belton, wife of Jack Belton, Lord Mayor of Dublin, opening the Capuchin Foreign Missions’ sale of work in Father Mathew Hall. The group includes Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. and Fr. Virgilius Murtagh OFM Cap.

Letter from Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap. to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, reporting on the sudden death of Fr. Donatus Ahern OFM Cap. in Elk, California. He was found dead in his bed, apparently having passed away in his sleep after eating dinner and washing dishes. The coroner attributed the cause to coronary thrombosis. The letter highlights the deaths of Fr. Anthony Delaney (two years prior) and Fr. Donatus, both found dead in Elk. The author suggests this ‘tragedy’ might be avoided if the priest in charge were permitted to live in Fort Bragg with other friars rather than alone.

A significant portion of the letter addresses tensions regarding vacation regulations for friars. The author mentions complaints about certain friars overstaying their allotted three-month leave, specifically citing one who spent nearly six months in Ireland. Father Stephen notes that because their Custody is not autonomous, he felt he lacked the authority to set return dates for those on leave without official notice from the Father General. He reports a stern message from Archbishop Mitty stating he would ‘never again allow certain friars (Fathers Leopold and Richard) to work in the archdiocese.

File relating to the complaints made by John Joseph Mitty, Archbishop of San Francisco, against the Irish Capuchins. Includes a documentary statement outlining the charges made by Archbishop Mitty in respect of the general conduct of the friars and a refutation of the same by Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap., Custos Provincial. The file includes testimonial letters (in favour of the Irish Capuchins) from John Joseph Cantwell, Archbishop of Los Angeles, outlining the service of the Capuchin fathers in Mendocino County in California. Also includes a letter from Fr. James P. Cantwell, Pastor, St. Brigid’s Church, San Francisco, California and notes from Sister M. Beata OP and Sister M. Rufina OP, The Albertinum Boarding School, Ukiah, California. A letter (26 March 1940) from Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap. to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, reads:

‘The fact is, although I have not said it in so many words, that the Archbishop [John Joseph Mitty] wants to get us out of Burlingame. It is just too good a plum for the Capuchins or for any other Religious Order. On March 28, when he informed me that he would not let us build there, he said, “Why can’t you build somewhere else?” – clearly showing that it was not a question of injury to religion but to the finances of the secular clergy. It is a well known fact that he does not like the Religious Orders. Some of them have brought their case to Rome already. And the Jesuit Provincial has mentioned our work in a letter to his Father General who is continually kept informed of the attempted encroachments of the Archbishop on their rights in San Francisco’.

Copy letter from Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Vicar Provincial, to Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap., Definitor General, informing him that the Archbishop of San Francisco has offered the Irish Province a Canonical Foundation in Easton, Burlingame. The letter is signed by Father Edwin, Fr. Colman Griffin, Fr. Angelus Healy, Fr. Mark McDonnell, and Fr. Aloysius Travers.

An image showing funeral procession of Terence MacSwiney on St. Patrick’s Street, Cork on 31 October 1920. Several Capuchin friars are identifiable in the procession including Fr. Cyril O’Sullivan OFM Cap., Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap.

An image of the large congregation at a Mass held in the Phoenix Park during the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin on 26 June 1932. Some Capuchin friars (including Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Fr. Ignatius Collins OFM Cap., Fr. Andrew Carew OFM Cap., Fr. Benedict Phelan OFM Cap., Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap.) and members of other religious congregations are visible in the photograph.